World War II Honoree

Wanda E. Craig

Hometown

Fox, Oklahoma

Honored By

William E. Shaklee

Relationship

Friend

AFTER GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL IN 1942, SHE WENT TO ARDMORE, OKLAHOMA AND ENROLLED IN A WOODWORKING CLASS THAT WAS MAKING DESKS FOR THE U.S. ARMY. SHE THEN WENT TO LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, AND WORKED AT A NORTH AMERICAN AIRCRAFT PLANT. SHE WORKED IN THE SHEET METAL DEPARTMENT AND LEARNED TO BE A RIVETER. SHE RETURNED TO OKLAHOMA AND WORKED AT TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, MIDWEST CITY, OKLAHOMA, IN THE WINGS DEPARTMENT. IN 1945 SHE MOVED TO DUNCAN, OKLAHOMA, WHERE SHE WORKED IN A GASOLINE REFINERY LABORATORY TESTING HIGH OCTANE GASOLINE FOR U.S. AIR FORCE PLANES UNTIL V-J DAY.